The 2014 AFL season has delivered lots of twists and turns, but once again the cream has risen and it is now time for the best eight teams in the competition to prove what they’re made of in the finals.
The top four sides are set to play off in cracking replays of last year’s preliminary finals, while the elimination finals throw up a couple of very intriguing fixtures.
Essendon and North Melbourne’s inconsistency makes them hard to split, while Port Adelaide and Richmond’s see-sawing seasons should also make for a tightly fought contest.
However it plays out, fans are guaranteed a ripping opening round of AFL finals football.
MORE AFL FINALS:
>>Hawthorn Hawks vs Geelong Cats HIGHLIGHTS
>>Roar Expert tips and predictions
>>Sydney Swans vs Fremantle Dockers HIGHLIGHTS
>>Port Adelaide Power vs Richmond Tigers HIGHLIGHTS
>>North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Essendon Bombers HIGHLIGHTS
Hawthorn Hawks vs Geelong Cats
Friday September 5, 7:50pm (AEST), MCG
TV: Seven Network (LIVE), Fox Footy (LIVE)
Odds: Hawthorn $1.50, Geelong $2.65*
MATCH RESULT:
Hawthorn well and truly put their hoodoo against the Cats to bed with a 36-point win on Friday night.
FINAL SCORE:
Hawks 15.14 (104)
Cats 10.8 (68)
MATCH PREVIEW:
The Hawks will be looking to make it three wins from their past four starts against the Cats and truly put their Geelong hoodoo to bed when they meet in the opening match of the 2014 AFL finals.
Just two weeks ago the Hawks stormed home against the Cats, recovering from a 33-point third term deficit to get home by 23 points.
The ability of the Hawks to score fast and freely when required is a terrifying prospect for Cats fans, but they should take confidence from their ability to push out a five goal lead against such quality in the first place.
Steve Johnson is a huge in for the Cats after he missed the clash in Round 22. He had 34 touches in their Round 5 win against the Hawks and could be the X-factor the Cats require to cause an upset.
The performance of Tom Hawkins will also be key. He had a day out in the Cats’ early season win; they need him to fire if they are any chance.
TIP: Hawks by less than a goal.
Teams
Hawthorn
B: Josh Gibson, Brian Lake, Ben Stratton
HB: Sam Mitchell, Grant Birchall, Will Langford
C: Bradley Hill, Luke Hodge, Isaac Smith.
HF: Luke Breust, Matt Spangher, Jordan Lewis
F: Paul Puopolo, Jarryd Roughead, Jack Gunston
Fol: David Hale, Liam Shiels, Shaun Burgoyne.
I/C: Taylor Duryea, Jonathon Ceglar, Brad Sewell, Jonathan Simpkin
Emg: Billy Hartung, Ben McEvoy, Angus Litherland
In: Ben Stratton, Bradley Hill, Luke Hodge.
Out: Ryan Schoenmakers (Omitted), Billy Hartung (Omitted), Angus Litherland (omitted).Geelong
B: Harry Taylor, Tom Lonergan, Jared Rivers
HB: Andrew Mackie, Corey Enright, Mitch Duncan.
C: Cameron Guthrie, Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel.
HF: Steven Motlop, Mark Blicavs, Jordan Murdoch.
F: Steve Johnson, Tom Hawkins, Mathew Stokes
Fol: Hamish McIntosh, Josh Caddy, James Kelly.
I/C: George Horlin-Smith, Jackson Thurlow, Travis Varcoe, Josh Walker.
Emg: Mitch Brown, Lincoln McCarthy, Brad Hartman.
In: Steven Motlop, Steve Johnson, Hamish McIntosh.
Out: Billie Smedts (Omitted), Lincoln McCarthy (Omitted), Mitch Brown (Omitted).
Sydney Swans vs Fremantle Dockers
Saturday September 6, 2:45pm (AEST), ANZ Stadium
TV: Seven Network (LIVE), Fox Footy (LIVE)
Odds: Sydney $1.45, Fremantle $2.80*
MATCH RESULT:
The Swans advanced past the Dockers following two final quarter goals from Lance Franklin helped to secure a 24-point victory for the home side at ANZ Stadium.FINAL SCORE:
Sydney 13.15 (93)
Fremantle 10.9 (69)
MATCH PREVIEW:
The Swans are the team to beat in the 2014 finals and Fremantle should be up to providing a strong challenge on Saturday afternoon.
Rain is forecast, and if it hits at game time, the sloppy conditions at ANZ Stadium should allow the Dockers to stifle the Swans midfield and reduce the potency of their monstrous forward line.
The return of Nathan Fyfe will be a huge boost for Fremantle – he shone in the Dockers 2013 preliminary final win and will be key to their success.
The story of the match will again be Buddy Franklin. The 2014 Coleman medalist has been immense in the second half of the season and there is no reason to believe he won’t carry that form into September.
Despite the loss of key defenders, which will be sorely missed against the might of the Swans’ forward line, expect the Dockers to put up a strong fight against the premiership favourites.
TIP: Sydney by 15.
Teams
Sydney
B: Nick Smith, Ted Richards, Dane Rampe
HB: Nick Malceski, Heath Grundy, Rhyce Shaw
C: Dan Hannebery, Josh Kennedy, Gary Rohan
HF: Lewis Jetta, Lance Franklin, Jarrad McVeigh
F: Adam Goodes, Kurt Tippett, Harry Cunningham
FOL: Mike Pyke, Kieren Jack, Luke Parker
I/C: Craig Bird, Jake Lloyd, Ben McGlynn, Sam Reid
EMG: Jeremy Laidler, Tom Mitchell, Dean Towers
IN: Josh Kennedy, Lance Franklin, Mike Pyke, Craig Bird, Ben McGlynn
OUT: Shane Biggs (Omitted), Dean Towers (Omitted),Tom Mitchell (Omitted), Sam Naismith (Omitted), Zak Jones (Omitted)Fremantle
B: Lee Spurr, Zac Dawson, Paul Duffield
HB: Danyle Pearce, Alex Silvagni, Tendai Mzungu
C: Cameron Sutcliffe, Ryan Crowley, Stephen Hill
HF: Matt Taberner, Chris Mayne, Hayden Ballantyne
F: Michael Walters, Matthew Pavlich, Zac Clarke
FOL: Aaron Sandilands, David Mundy, Nat Fyfe
I/C: Jonathon Griffin, Garrick Ibbotson, Michael Barlow, Lachie Neale
EMG: Matt de Boer, Hayden Crozier, Alex Pearce
IN: Alex Silvagni, Nat Fyfe, Jonathon Griffin
OUT: Michael Johnson (Back), Hayden Crozier (Omitted), Nick Suban (Ankle)
North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Essendon Bombers
Saturday September 6, 7:15pm (AEST), MCG
TV: Seven Network (LIVE), Fox Footy (LIVE)
Odds: North Melbourne $1.70, Essendon $2.20*
MATCH RESULT:
Essendon’s 2014 season ended after a strong final quarter from the Kangaroos secured them a 12-point win. They advance to face the Cats in week 2 of the finals.FINAL SCORE:
Kangaroos 14.9 (93)
Bombers 12.9 (81)
MATCH PREVIEW:
North Melbourne have been one of 2014’s most inconsistent sides. If you focus on their wins against the Hawks, Fremantle and Sydney, you would assume they are more than up for the challenge.
But the memory of their losses against lowly placed sides such as Brisbane and Carlton make it hard to be confident of their best side showing up.
Essendon ran over the Roos in their early season meeting and their key stars in Jobe Watson, Brendon Goddard and Dyson Heppell were all instrumental. Finals specialist Paul Chapman also kicked four in that match and no one would be surprised if he pops up and slots a couple of handy goals in this match.
Both sides have key veterans watching from the sidelines. Dustin Fletcher’s cool head up back will be missed, but the Kangaroos have bigger shoes to fill with Brent Harvey still serving a suspension.
Harvey only seems to get better with age, and his ability to respond at key moments could be a crucial missing x-factor for North Melbourne in this match.
TIP: Essendon by 9.
Teams
North Melbourne
B: Luke McDonald, Scott D. Thompson, Michael Firrito
HB: Sam Gibson, Nathan Grima, Shaun Atley
C: Nick Dal Santo, Andrew Swallow, Ryan Bastinac
HF: Levi Greenwood, Ben Brown, Daniel Wells
F: Lindsay Thomas, Drew Petrie, Aaron Black
FOL: Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Jack Ziebell
I/C: Ben Jacobs, Sam Wright, Jamie Macmillan, Kayne Turner
EMG: Trent Dumont, Mason Wood, Aaron Mullett
IN: Luke McDonald, Michael Firrito, Levi Greenwood, Lindsay Thomas, Todd Goldstein
OUT: Lachlan Hansen (Hip), Daniel Currie (Omitted), Aaron Mullett (Omitted), Mason Wood (Omitted), Leigh Adams (Concussion)Essendon
B: Mark Baguley, Cale Hooker, Courtenay Dempsey
HB: Jason Winderlich, Michael Hurley, Michael Hibberd
C: Brendon Goddard, Jobe Watson, Dyson Heppell
HF: Paul Chapman, Joe Daniher, Brent Stanton
F: David Zaharakis, Tom Bellchambers, Zach Merrett
FOL: Patrick Ryder, David Myers, Heath Hocking
I/C: Ariel Steinberg, Martin Gleeson, Ben Howlett,Travis Colyer
EMG: Patrick Ambrose, Jackson Merrett, Cory Dell’Olio
IN: David Myers, Ariel Steinberg
OUT: Patrick Ambrose (Omitted), Orazio Fantasia (Omitted)
Port Adelaide Power vs Richmond Tigers
Sunday September 7, 3:20pm (AEST), Adelaide Oval
TV: Seven Network (LIVE), Fox Footy (LIVE)
Odds: Port Adelaide $1.42, Richmond $2.95*
MATCH RESULT:
Port Adelaide made a strong statement on Sunday afternoon with a commanding 57-point win in their elimination final against Richmond.FINAL SCORE:
Power 20.12 (132)
Tigers 11.9 (75)
MATCH PREVIEW:
In the second half of the season Richmond have dropped just two games and currently sit on a nine-game winning streak. The Power on the other hand have only notched up four wins from their past 11 starts.
Port Adelaide will have a big, boisterous crowd cheering them home, but Richmond are the form side heading into this match.
The Tigers also hold the wood over Port in their recent meetings. They secured a 20-point win against them in Round 17 at Etihad Stadium, and in 2013 got home by 41-points at AAMI Stadium off the back of a five goal haul to Jack Riewoldt.
All signs point to the underdogs having a good chance to pull off an upset, but a win against Port Adelaide at home is easier said than done.
In the first half of the season Adelaide Oval was a fortress for the Power and their form revival over the past couple of rounds means they’ll be more than up for the challenge.
TIP: Richmond by 10 points.
Teams
Port Adelaide
B: Jackson Trengove, Alipate Carlile, Tom Jonas
HB: Matthew Broadbent, Jack Hombsch, Jasper Pittard
C: Kane Cornes, Ollie Wines, Hamish Hartlett
HF: Robbie Gray, Justin Westhoff, Angus Monfries
F: Jake Neade, Jay Schulz, Chad Wingard
FOL: Matthew Lobbe, Travis Boak, Brad Ebert
I/C: Andrew Moore, Jarman Impey, Jared Polec, Matt White, Cam O’Shea, Benjamin Newton, Kane Mitchell (Three to be omitted)
IN: Cam O’Shea, Benjamin Newton, Kane MitchellRichmond
B: Chris Newman, Alex Rance, Dylan Grimes
HB: Bachar Houli, Troy Chaplin, Steven Morris
C: Nick Vlastuin, Trent Cotchin, Anthony Miles
HF: Nathan Gordon, Ben Griffiths, Brett Deledio
F: Shane Edwards, Jack Riewoldt, Dustin Martin
FOL: Ivan Maric, Brandon Ellis, Shaun Grigg
I/C: Nathan Foley, Jake Batchelor, Ricky Petterd, Reece Conca, Matt Dea, Sam Lloyd, Daniel Jackson (Three to be omitted)
IN: Matt Dea, Sam Lloyd, Daniel Jackson
Join The Roar for live scores, coverage and post-match highlights of the 2014 AFL finals.
*Odds correct as of 11:00am Thursday, September 4.
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